Letter 13

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
December 4, 1843.
My Dear Sister,
It is always grateful to me to have a little communication with dear Charlotte; and tell her, with my Mary's love and mine, how truly we hope she may soon be able to use her pencil again. The good hand of the Lord has dealt peculiarly with her. But His grace and Spirit have dealt blessedly. May you all be kept, in His mercy, unto His kingdom, which grows nearer day by day.
Your mention of the early chapters of Genesis led me to sit down and put my view of them on paper, which I now send you in its rough form. There was much grace and full brotherly love at the meeting of Liverpool. This rather marked it than power; though dear Mr.....'s preaching was truly edifying and comforting. But it is not, dear sister, our stock of knowledge, which we need to have increased, but that stock to become more active and livelier in our souls, to stir itself there, and make itself a quickening mass, giving character to our minds more and more. Our Christian love to your dear mother, and to the dear ... . I was very glad again to see him, as I did at Liverpool. To dear Miss K... give my true Christian love also. A little communication with her is also so pleasant. I hope dear.... still continues well.
I am sure it is desirable for the soul to inquire after heaven from the Scriptures, to be musing on the notions which they give us of what it is—to cherish them in our hearts, and turn them over in our thoughts. How far, my dear sister, does the imagination hinder or help this? But we want every help to make our religion a religion of delight and of affection, so as to counteract the strong currents of natural delights and desires.
Dear Mrs. ... was very welcome in the midst of us, and many have lamented her departure. The Lord be with your spirit, and believe me,
Ever your affectionate brother,
J. G. B.
Had I even Simeon's righteousness, piety, revelations, and every gift he possessed, I would, with him, (Luke 2:25-32,) willingly forget and forsake them, living or dying, in order to exchange them for the child Jesus—Israel's only consolation. It is matter of astonishment, adoration, and delight to see how the Lord can induce us to let everything go—everything appears so frivolous, unsatisfying, trifling, and superficial—even good and spiritual things which formerly gave much gratification, and of which we were so tenacious, but which for that very reason served only to interpose between us and God, and were injurious because they were held so fast. Jesus alone is sufficient, but yet insufficient, when He is not wholly and solely embraced.
***
O what a treasure it is to set aside all spiritual light and the gifts of grace in order solely to know that God is what He is! It is indeed eternal life to know Him. The desire of men to know much, even in spiritual things, is a powerful proof that they know not God in reality.